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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:26 p.m., Thursday, February 7, 2008

Tennis: Chakvetadze, Hantuchova reach Paris quarters

PARIS — Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze defeated Nathalie Dechy 6-1, 6-3 today to reach the quarterfinals of the Gaz de France Open.

Second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova outlasted Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, and Kateryna Bondarenko cruised past Yuliana Fedak 6-0, 6-3.

Chakvetadze will face the winner of the match between Amelie Mauresmo and Eleni Daniilidou, while Hantuchova will take on Agnes Szavay. Bondarenko will play fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva.

Chakvetadze converted her first match point when Dechy hit a backhand wide.

"I actually didn't expect it would be so easy," Chakvetadze said. "Nathalie definitely didn't play her best."

The Russian broke Dechy three times in the first set and did not lose her serve despite landing only 31 percent of her first serves.

Chakvetadze broke Dechy for a 3-0 lead in the second set, but the Frenchwoman evened it at 3-3 after Chakvetadze made several unforced errors.

"I lost my concentration a bit," said Chakvetadze, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open. "For a first match, I think it's OK."

Hantuchova improved to 7-0 against Srebotnik.

She unleashed a crosscourt backhand winner on her first match point. The Slovak had fought off three break points in the third set before breaking Srebotnik at 4-3 with a volley at the net.

"Every time we play, it's always a tough match," Hantuchova said. "I've always had to play very well to beat her. I guess she always brings the best out of me when I play against her."

Hantuchova dominated the first set, hitting six aces without allowing a break point.